The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-20
Mulchiprin DRY Weather.

Ohio Correspondence Country Gentleman.
Seldom summer season passes without a
drought. 1t may be of only few weeks dura-
ton. or as sometimes is the case. 1t may be ex-
tended through the months of July, August and
September. Trees and shrubs planted In the
spring at this season passing critical period;
the roots and shoots have got well started. but
are in succulent and tender condition, and are
easily affected by any change arising from lack
of moisture. The leaves are in a condition to
rapidly evaporate moisture. the continual hot
and dry atmosphere greatly increases this evap-
GRAFTON. The rootets taxed to their utmost
to maintain this rapid passing off of the
moisture, and unless there is sufficient
supply at hand, they soon give out. and the
organs of the tree or shrub become so weakened
that it has to succumb for lack of nourishmeut.
The surface of the soil becomes very hot II fully
exposed to the sun, and creates a rapid evapo-
alton of the moisture it contains.
1t is impera:ively necessary, therefore. to help
check this rapid evaporation by mulching with
soma material of sufficient looseness to admit of
water and air. but still sufficiently dense to pre-
vent the suns rays from drying and heating the
soil. Before applying the mulch it is advisable
to siir the surface CT the soi to admit the rains
freely. On the top of this then apply the mulch,
spreading j. out beyond the area occupied by the
roots, for, unless carried far enough from the
stem of the tree to cover the rootlets forming at
the ends of the old roots, it does not do very
much good We often see trees having a thick
covering OF mulch placed close around the stem
of the tree. doing little il any, good as the roots
requiring to be- benefited have extended several
feet beyond where the mulch is spread.
Mulching may not only be a check upon the
evaporation of moisture from the SOIL but also
an aid in supplying food for newly set trees by
using some material containing a supply Of plant
food. Nothing is much better for this purpose
than the rough litter from the manure pile. 1t
contains considerable of the elements which are
necessary to build up plant life. and every
shower carries into the soil these clements in q
condition suitable at once for the plants require
ments. Spent hops. as obtained from the brew
cries, make an excellent mulch. have used it
largely for years, for this purpose. year
muiched patch of late cabbage with about
three inches of hops. and although severe
drought set IN during September. / had most
excellent crop Of the largest cabbaces 1 ever
raised. also value 1t very largely for potting
material. When thoroughly decayed it is open
IN texture. and for such plants as geraniums,
fuchsias and heliotropes, makes one of the best
coils know OF. From one brewery get from
sixty to one hundred loads of this material every
year, and consider it of double the value OK barn
yard manure bulk for bulk.
ANY coarse material, however may be used as
a mulch, and rather than allow the trees to suf-
fer, use sawetst if nothing else can be had. al
though am always averse to putting undecayed
sawdust upon any kind of soil. especially soils
of q sour nature, where the drainage is imper-
feet as it is apt TO make the soil more inert,
and raise crop of fungus.